Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola don confirm say Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo no go available for this weekend Premier League clash with Manchester City at Anfield.
The two players bin dey among Liverpool most in-form players in early weeks of season, but both had to withdraw from international duty after injuries during their countries’ UEFA Nations League clashes.
Isak sustain thigh injury in Sweden match against Romania, while Gakpo collect injury from poor challenge by Serbia Sasa Lukic.
Iraola talk say, ‘Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo will not play the game. They are not ready. Unfortunately for us, both got injuries during the international break.’
He add say as club manager, you dey always wait until games and hope say doctor no go call you or give you bad news. For this case, im say Liverpool don unlucky.
On Gakpo, Iraola explain say na ankle injury. He don get some before for career and e just dey matter of dealing with pain. When you twist ankle, and na really bad tackle, he dey do things individually but he no ready for Sunday.
For Isak, the coach say na thigh injury. E no be massive injury, na small injury. Whenever he feel ready. Both no look like long-term, dem go analyse day to day but dem no go ready on Sunday.
Iraola also mention say Lewis Koumas get their trust. He no think say na big surprise. He say he always like the player. He don already show for important minutes say he ready to go. Dem also get other players wey fit cover positions. Now dem need make decisions.
When dem ask how Liverpool forward line fit look against City, Iraola add say even before that dem no get Hugo Ekitike, another striker he dey look forward to. Dem no get Hugo, dem no get Alex. Dem fit maybe recover Fede Chiesa but he never play any minutes as he dey recover from injury and he don dey do very good job during international break with small group.
Iraola talk say of the four number 9s, e true say dem probably get only Koumas, but dem get other options, wingers wey don play up front for other teams. He believe dem go put an 11 with level enough to compete throughout the game.
This one go be City first outing since independent commission find dem guilty of breaches of Premier League financial rules. The club deny any wrongdoing and don appeal the decision, but that one unlikely to reduce noise around Sunday fixture.
Iraola say every game na exciting game. He say dem dey play at home at Anfield against City wey dey top of league right now. City don win all their games and he think dem go go for the game. He think e go be open game and dem must ready and use help from supporters and he hope dem dey at level of game wey go high.
For Liverpool lineup, Iraola name side to face Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday evening for sixth round of Premier League. Young striker Lewis Comas na surprise package, drafted in with Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo all injured. Dominik Szoboszlai no make matchday squad at all.
Liverpool line up: Goalkeeper: Alisson. Defence: Araujo, Jaquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez. Midfield: Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz. Attack: Munoz, Barcola, Comas.
For Manchester City side, Erling Haaland spearhead attack in pick of sixth-round fixtures, with Enzo Fernandez and Rayan Cherki operating behind him. Enzo Maresca Manchester City side line up as follows: Goalkeeper: Donnarumma. Defence: Nunez, Diaz, Guehi, O'Reilly. Midfield: Anderson, Enzo Fernandez, Cherki. Attack: Semenyo, Ndiaye, Haaland.
City sit top of Premier League with 15 points from 15, perfect record. Liverpool dey eighth on 9.
